I Plan To Go on a Long Motorcycle Ride and End Up at a Hospital. Several actually. ;)

It's not exactly what you might fear. One of the most fun elements of the 2 Wheels 4 Kids ride is that I'll be making a number of stops along the way to visit with some hospitalized kids. Just in the past week a visit to Miami Children's Hospital at the beginning of May has been confirmed and, with Miami joining the previously announced visits in Maine, California, and Washington we've now got all four corners of the country covered. Hopefully we'll have one last location near the geographic center of the USA to announce soon. At each visit there will be the chance to chat with kids, talk about my ride and the amazing things to be seen in our country, dole out some swag, let the kids autograph Austin Hatcher Foundation t-shirts that I'll be wearing along the way, and other fun activities.

My departure is now less that 60 days away! Still lots to do!

2 Wheels 4 Kids Helmet Design Contest !

A Bell RS-1 helmet will be protecting my noggin throughout the 2 WHEELS 4 KIDS ride around the continental United States. It's a great piece - comfortable fit, lightweight, lots of ventilation features, and more. But we thought maybe a bit more style might be in order. To that end, on Monday the Austin Hatcher Foundation announced the 2 WHEELS 4 KIDS Helmet Design Contest.

The basic idea is simple. Children, ages 5 through 12, from anywhere in the US will be able to submit a helmet design to the Austin Hatcher Foundation before March 20th. At that time a panel of judges (me included) will select the winning design to be professionally painted on the helmet. The helmet will be then worn throughout the 10,000+ 2 WHEELS 4 KIDS ride in April and May.For contest details and entry information go to http://www.hatcherfoundation.org/2wheels4kids/

I can't wait to see what I'll be wearing in April!

Yo. RevZilla this Saturday! Be There!

This Saturday is the date of the RevZilla Winter Warmup Open House. Lots going on there from 10AM until 5PM. Product demos, door prizes, food! Philly area - check it out!

You can hang with all the RevZillians, meet with and hear my friend Phil Freeman from Motoquest Tours talk about Riding in Alaska, and check out new 2012 gear offerings from Rev'It! and others. Oh yeah, I'll be there to talk about the "2 Wheels 4 Kids" ride too! Be there.  

Game On!

Tonight was the night we've been waiting for - the official public announcement of the 2 WHEELS 4 KIDS Ride. The setting was the amazing Coker Tire Museum in Chattanooga (If you like old cars and old bikes and you're in the neighborhood then don't miss a chance to take in this stunning collection!)and the event was the annual "Pistons and Fenders" Charity do, put on by Pandora's European Motorsports for the benefit of the Austin Hatcher Foundation. Hundreds of folks attended and tens thousands of dollars were raised through the event itself and the charity auction. Had my bike on display and lookin' good. Even got the chance to speak to the crowd for a few minutes about my ride! Check out the pictures of me in a suit - you won't see many of these going forward. All in all a great evening and kickoff for 2 WHEELS 4 KIDS. I depart in only 80 days!

Childrens Hospital Visits
We also announced a couple of very cool elements to my ride. First, as previously indicated, I'm going to be making stops along the way to visit hospitalized kids. We'll have some activities at each location, handouts, and stuff for the kids to sign and for me to carry along the way as I visit the far corners of the USA. Officially on board are:

 Barbara Bush Childrens Hospital
 Portland, ME

Rady Childrens Hospital
San Diego, CA

Seattle Childrens Hospital
 Seattle, WA.

We anticipate adding a Florida Hospital destination soon, as well as a 5th facility near the geographic center of the US - Kansas City or somewhere nearby.

Helmet Painting Contest
Another great adjunct to the ride is a national contest to design a paint scheme for my helmet. The good folks at Bell Helmets have donated a brand new Bell RS-1 helmet. Next week the Austin Hatcher Foundation will be putting out the details of a nationwide competition for kids to create a distinctive design for that helmet. Sometime in March, a team of judges (me included!) will pick a winner and a professional painter will recreate that design on my helmet - to be work throughout the trip! Hoping pink isn't the main color. ;)

Text To Donate
Last, but not least, we announced a seamless way for almost everyone to get involved by supporting the Austin Hatcher Foundation. Up and running is the "Text to Donate" program. You can donate $10 right now to the Austin Hatcher Foundation by texting the word WHEELS to 501501. Please do it now while you are thinking of it!